• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.145-153
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• 2010

Purpose: Sjogren's syndrome is a type of autoimmune disease and characterized by the keratoconjunctivitis sicca, xerostomia, dryness of mouth & eyes and rheumatoid arthritis or another connective tissue disease. In the Traditional Korean Medicine, there is few report to diagnose and treat Sjogren's syndrome. Methods: The subject was a typical Sjogren's syndrome in 48-year old women whose complaints were dryness of mouth and eyes, severe general myalgia. The author treated her with acupuncture and herbal medicine therapy, then evaluated with MMQ score, XQS grade and VAS score on a regular basis. Results: After treatment, clinical symptoms were improved, MMQ score and XQS grade were decreased. Conclusion: The Traditional Korean Medical Therapy combined acupuncture with herbal medicine relieves the symptom of Sjogren's syndrome.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the associated factors of self-reported dry mouth in adults. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was filled out by 249 adults in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do from June to October, 2014. The questionnaire consisted of general characteristics of the subjects, age, monthly income, smoking, alcohol drinking, and systemic diseases including systemic diseases, medication, oral health status, and stress. The question for dry mouth consisted of dryness in skin, eyes, lips, and nasal mucosa. The subjective dry mouth consisted of 6 questions measured by visual analogue scale(VAS). Cronbach's alpha was 0.881 in the study. Oral health related quality of life (OHIP-14) was adapted from Yoon. The questionnaire for OHIP-14 included functional limitation, physical pain, psychological disability, social disability, and experience in hadicap measured by Likert 5 scale. Cronbach's alpha was 0.885 in the study. Data was analyzed for a t-test, one-way ANOVA and multiple regression analysis by using SPSS(SPSS 18.0, USA) program. Results: There were positive correlations between oral health-related quality of life and self-reported dry mouth (functional limitation r=0.288, physical pain r=0.219, psychological discomfort r=0.193, physical disability r=0.280, psychological disability r=0.205, social disability r=0.224 and handicap r=0.270). In the multiple regression analysis, variation of self-reported dry mouth were positively associated with dry eyes{very often(${\beta}=0.305$)), sometimes(${\beta}=0.186$)}, dryness on lips{very often(${\beta}=0.247$), sometimes(${\beta}=0.177$)}, handicap(${\beta}=0.152$), physical disability(${\beta}=0.128$) and alcohol drinking(1-2 times/week)(${\beta}=0.116$) (p<0.001). Conclusions: Self-reported dry mouth may cause deterioration of the entire body dryness(dryness on eyes and lips), low oral health-related quality of life(handicap and physical disability) and alcohol drinking. Thus, It is necessary to develop oral health education programs to prevent and manage dry mouth in adults.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.99-111
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• 2018

$Sj{\ddot{o}}gren^{\prime}s$ syndrome (SjS) is a common autoimmune disorder characterized by lymphocytic infiltration in the salivary and lacrimal glands, resulting in severe dry mouth or eyes. As a result, most of SjS patients suffer from oral dryness and can visit the department of oral medicine with or without diagnosis of SjS. Therefore, oral medicine specialists should know clues, which may indicate the diagnosis of SjS from the clinical and laboratory investigations. By the recent SjS criteria, SjS can be diagnosed by focus score, ocular staining, Schirmer's test, unstimulated whole saliva flow rate, and anti-SSA/Ro antibodies. The aim of this article is to review the diagnostic criteria, clinical investigation, and basic aspect related to SjS and to make oral medicine specialists play an important role in the detection of emerging SjS.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.179-182
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• 2019

Sjögren syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by dryness of the mouth and eyes due to lymphocytic infiltration of the exocrine glands. In American European Consensus Group (AECG) criteria, abnormal salivary gland scintigraphy (SGS) result is one of the objective signs of SS and it has been proposed as a valid and non-invasive alternative approach to functional evaluation of salivary gland, especially in the case when unstimulated whole salivary flow is more than 1.5 mL in 15 minutes or other AECG criteria is unmet. Patients with SS are more likely to have the thyroid disease (TD), but this association remains controversial. We present a case of the use of SGS for diagnosis of primary SS and TD in patients with dry mouth and burning sensation of tongue. Through this case, we suggest the usefulness of salivary scintigraphy for screening TD in addition to diagnosis of SS.

• CELLMED
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.14.1-14.2
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• 2022

Currently, a 70-year-old woman started suffering from S.I joint pain from 1973 and had severe pain in the S.I joint, wrist, and elbow from 1975 to 1977, and was diagnosed with spinal tuberculosis at a general hospital. From 1978 to 1987, she suffered from chronic fatigue and insomnia, and since January 1, 1988, she was unable to get up while lying down, suffering from whole body joint, muscle pain, and fibromyalgia. In May 1989, she was also diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis through genetic testing at the Catholic St. Mary's Hospital Rheumatology Department in Korea, and was treated with sulfasalazine, analgesic, and immunosuppressant, methotrexate, for 12 years until 1999, but none of the drugs eliminated the pain. She was hospitalized and discharged repeatedly, and continued to receive salt water poultice and exercise therapy at home, but was unable to move at all. In 2000, after biologic treatment with Remicade injection (Remsima®), she was able to walk and move, and after that, she was continuously prescribed biologics. From 2015 to 2019, Enbrel® (Etanercept) injection was prescribed once a week, but the symptoms such as severe pain (joint and muscle, fibromyalgia), scleroderma, Sjogren's syndrome (dryness of eyes, nose and mouth), difficulty swallowing, chronic fatigue, and stiff body appeared. Around January 2018, hepatic indicators were high and lymphocytes became enlarged. However, most serious injuries were highly improved after the OCNT combination therapy using active phytonutrients, anthocyanin-fucoidan nanocomplex. Therefore, for patients with such experiences, OCNT treatment is proposed as an alternative.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.34.1-34.16
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• 2021

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by dryness of the mouth and eyes. The glandular dysfunction in SS involves not only T cell-mediated destruction of the glands but also autoantibodies against the type 3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor or aquaporin 5 (AQP5) that interfere with the secretion process. Studies on the breakage of tolerance and induction of autoantibodies to these autoantigens could benefit SS patients. To break tolerance, we utilized a PmE-L peptide derived from the AQP5-homologous aquaporin of Prevotella melaninogenica (PmAqp) that contained both a B cell "E" epitope and a T cell epitope. Repeated subcutaneous immunization of C57BL/6 mice with the PmE-L peptide efficiently induced the production of Abs against the "E" epitope of mouse/human AQP5 (AQP5E), and we aimed to characterize the antigen specificity, the sequences of AQP5E-specific B cell receptors, and salivary gland phenotypes of these mice. Sera containing anti-AQP5E IgG not only stained mouse Aqp5 expressed in the submandibular glands but also detected PmApq and PmE-L by immunoblotting, suggesting molecular mimicry. Characterization of the AQP5E-specific autoantibodies selected from the screening of phage display Ab libraries and mapping of the B cell receptor repertoires revealed that the AQP5E-specific B cells acquired the ability to bind to the Ag through cumulative somatic hypermutation. Importantly, animals with anti-AQP5E Abs had decreased salivary flow rates without immune cell infiltration into the salivary glands. This model will be useful for investigating the role of anti-AQP5 autoantibodies in glandular dysfunction in SS and testing new therapeutics targeting autoantibody production.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.340-350
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• 2011

1. Objectives: This clinical study was conducted to understand the differences between Sasang constitutional types and to identify the physical symptoms presentation specific to each Sasang constitutional type. 2. Methods: In this descriptive study, 2,629 subjects (1,061 Taeeum-type, 683 Soeum-type, 885 Soyang-type) were surveyed between Nov 1, 2007 and Jul 31, 2010. The subjective symptoms experienced by the subjects were collected using a Physical Symptoms questionnaire, and the subjects were interviewed by Sasang specialists who determined the subjects' constitutional type. The data (in crude number and percentage) was analyzed on the general characteristics, Sasang constitutional type, and physical symptoms using the SPSS 17.0 software. The symptomatic presentation in men and women were analyzed on Sasang constitutional distribution using the chi-square test. 3. Results: 1) The physical symptoms specific to each Sasang constitutional type were as follows: 'frequent aphthous lesions in the oral cavity', 'lingering fatigue after sleep', 'headache', 'common cold symptoms presenting as loss of appetite or indigestion', and 'physical deterioration presenting as problems with digestion' in the Soeum type; 'physical deterioration presenting as problems in perspiration' and 'swelling and puffiness' in the Taeeum type; and 'excessive forgetfulness' in the Soyang type. 2) The physical symptoms specific to each Sasang constitutional type in men were as follows: 'Unilateral or bilateral headaches, 'frequent aphthous lesions in the oral cavity', 'common cold symptoms presenting as rhinorrhea or nasal congestion', 'common cold symptoms presenting as loss of appetite or indigestion', and 'physical deterioration presenting as problems with digestion' in the Soeum type; and 'swelling and puffiness' in the Taeeum type. 3) The physical symptoms specific to each Sasang constitutional type in women were as follows: 'common cold symptoms presenting as headaches', 'common cold symptoms presenting as loss of appetite or indigestion', 'physical deterioration presenting as problems with digestion' in the Soeum type; and 'pain in knees', 'redness of eyes', 'dryness of mouth', 'common cold symptoms presenting as coughing', 'physical deterioration presenting as problems in perspiration', 'swelling and puffiness' in the Taeeum type. 4. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that physical symptoms present in constitutional type-specific patterns. Understanding of the personal Sasang constitutional type and systematic, personalized healthcare based on constitutional typology is anticipated to contribute to improved health management strategy.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.62-70
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to analyze factors related to xerostomia in adults aged 30 years and over. The data were analyzed using the t-test, one-way ANOVA and multiple linear regression analysis in the SPSS version 12.0 program. The results were as follow. 1. The respondents who were older than 51 years old, unemployed and had less than 3 million won of average monthly income were more aware of xerostomia (p<0.05). 2. The respondents who answered poor and moderate for their general and oral health and the group with duplicate medication and comorbidity were more aware of xerostomia (p<0.05). 3. The respondents that had problems in chewing, communication, ordinary activities and complained of pain discomfort and suffered from anxiety depression were more aware of xerostomia (p<0.001). 4. The respondents that answered frequent dryness on their skin, eyes, lips, and nasal mucosa were more aware of xerostomia (p<0.001). 5. Xerostomia showed highest correlation with quality of life ($\beta$=0.436) followed by the number of medications ($\beta$=0.239), sense of entire body dryness ($\beta$=0.200), feeling of hopelessness ($\beta$=0.160) and number of oral mucosa disease symptoms ($\beta$=0.099) (p<0.05). According to the results of the study, xerostomia may cause deterioration in quality of life. Thus, it is advised to improve the patient management system among dental professions to prevent various complications caused by xerostomia and conduct regular health education on the cause and management method of xerostomia.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.386-392
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the factors related to xerostomia in patients with systemic diseases, and the results were analyzed through t-test, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression analysis. There were 62 respondents (56.9%) who reported dry mouth and the season of the most severe dry mouth was reported to be the highest during winter. According to the analysis made in the relationship of xerostomia with the awareness of general health and health behavior, the group that understood their own health poorly, had more than two kinds of diseases, and had been administered more than two kinds of daily medication showed higher xerostomia. Also, those who experienced desperation, had high dryness in other parts of the body, and heavy snoring were more aware of xerostomia (p<0.05). According to the analysis made in the relationship between xerostomia and awareness of oral health state, the group that understood their oral health poorly and had pain in the oral mucous membrane and halitosis was more aware of xerostomia (p<0.05). According to the analysis made in the relationship between quality of life and xerostomia, the group that showed high level of problem in daily living and stress and were self-conscious and felt tense due to halitosis reported more xerostomia (p<0.05). Finally, xerostomia was most correlated with consciousness of the eyes of others due to halitosis followed by the number of transferred systemic diseases and stress level. Based on such results, xerostomia was understood to be an obstacle in maintaining favorable social life and health. Since xerostomia was shown to be related to the number of transferred systemic diseases, the dental professions are asked to further improve their understanding not only on oral health but also systemic diseases. Therefore, these efforts are expected to prevent xerostomia and reduce various complications caused by xerostomia.